Six likely security holes in your organization
Security risks abound even in organizations that take important steps to mitigate them. Sometimes they appear right under one's nose, and other times they can be quite obscure. ComputerWorld's John Brandon highlights six widespread security holes and suggestions on how they can be quickly closed.
The seemingly innocent office printer can present a hacker's dream if it is Wi-Fi enabled or uses 3G access. Hackers can connect to corporate networks via a printer's ports or capture printouts that reveal sensitive data. While there may not be an easy way to block all the ports from unauthorized access, companies can always disable a printer's wireless options.
Unauthorized smartphones used to access company data over Wi-Fi networks present a more obvious security risk. When employees use their own devices that operate across multiple wireless systems, bad actors have opportunities to break into the corporate network. A hacker can use Bluetooth to connect to a smartphone a mile away, and then link into an enterprise's wireless network, Brandon reports.
Smartphones present another leak potential when used for text messaging. Employees can unwittingly reveal sensitive data via spoofing, and hackers can also use texts to install malicious programs on phones. Filtering text activity is generally done by the carriers, so companies are wise to work with them to ensure that malware-blocking programs are in place, Brandon reports.
For more:
- see John Brandon's article at ComputerWorld
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